Process and apparatus for electrodeposition under compression.



E. G. COOK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION UNDER COMPRESSSON. APPLICATIONi FILED MAY 13. l9l6- RENEWED MAY 11. 1918.

1,71 1%" Patented Jul 2,1918.

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'E. G. COOK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION UNDER COMPRESSlON. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. l9l6- RENEWED MAY .11, 191B.

1 ,Q? 1 1L 3%, Patented July 2,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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EDWARD G. COOK, 0F LONG- ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO COPPER PRODUCTS COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITION UNDER COMPRESSION.

Patented July 2, 1W1.

Application filed May 13, 1916, Serial No. 97,227. Renewed May 11, 1918. Serial No. 234,016.

To all whom it may concern .is a specification.

In the electro-deposltiou of metals it has been found that frequently by vagaries in the current, or unknown conditions in the electrolytic-bath, that the metals deposited are spongy, non-solid and not as homogeneous as is desired.

The objects of my invention, are to provide a new and improved method'or process, and a new and improved apparatus for carrying the same into effect, wherein and whereby eleetrolyt-ically-deposited metallic articles of all forms, may be solidly and homogeneously formed, in a cheap and etlicient manner.

My improved method and process of so forming articles by electro-deposition may be carried out. by many various and widely diverse machines an apparatus; several forms of which, of my invention are herein disclosed.

Such devices as shown herein are particularly designed and adapted for the electrodeposition of annular-rings, which may be used for various purposes; but. in the forms shown, the same are more particularly adapted and designed for the productiolr of thejdriving-rings of soft copper, etc., to be used as driving-rings upon artillery projeetiles to take the rifling of the cannon-bore, and give the projectile proper rotation.

My said method and process, and apparatus for carryin such process and method into effect are fully shown and described in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, and wherein Figure 1 is an end view in substantially central longitudinal section, on the line a-o of Fig. 2, looking from the left thereof in the direction of the arrow, of an electro lytic-loath adapted for the formation of annular-rings by my improved process herein disclosed.

Fig. 2 is a view of such structure looking from the right of Fig. 1, taken in substantially central vertical section, showing an electrolytic-bath adapted for the simultaneous formation of two rings.

Fig. 3 is an end view partially in section, and on an enlarged scale of a portion of the simplest form of apparatus of my invention for carrying such improved metal-depositing, densifying and consolidated method of process into effect; and Fig. 4 is a view in detail of a slightly modified form of c0nstruction, similar to the top portion of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 of a second modified form of construetion, of that portion of the mechanism shown in such Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the entire structure and apparatus. a portion only of which is shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing an apparatus for simultaneously forming two rings instead of one, the pressure upon each of which may be varied; and Fig. 8 1s a top plan view similar to Fig. 7, save that six rings are being simultaneously formed under equal densifying and consolidating pressure.

While the apparatus shownis especially designed for the formation of annular-rings, my improved method and process herein disclosed is not limited to such use, but may be used for the formation by electrolytic-deposit-ion of densified and consolidatedarticles of any desired shape or form; but in the .formation of rings, ll prefer to form the same in the manner following Referring to the drawings lln Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1, designates the elect-rolytic-bnth-receptacle, or tank containing electrolytic-liquid, usually up to the height of the line 7)b so aS to immerse the cathode C-, to a point just below the journals 6 thereof resting in the journal slots 2, which slots are. open at thetop and are formed in the end walls 3, of the receptacle.

- Located in the tank, usually supported on the bottom by insulating-studs 4, is the anode A|, usually in the form of a plate. The cathode O, is usually formed of brass, or other suitable metal or alloy havin igh electric conductivity, and consists of t e central conducting-cylinder or mandrel 5, havin at either end the integrally formed j ourna s 6 and 6', removably and revolubly fittin in the journal slots 2; which are fprefera ly rounded outwardly toward the ront,

as indicated at 2 (Fig. 1) so as to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cathode C- without interference with the outer end of 22.

Removably secured upon the journal is a pulley or gear-wheel 7, by means of wh1ch such cathode may be rotated.

The other journal 6, has in contact therewith a commutator-contact-spring 8, usually supported upOn a bracket 8, on the receptacle-wall leading from which spring tothe minus-pole 9 of the electric-generator G, is the conducting wire 10; while from the plus-pole 11, an insulated conducting-wire 12, connects with the anode A+. On the journal 6" is removably secured a collar 13, to prevent end thrust during rotation of the cathode.

To produce rings by my improved electrolytic process I superpose alternately upon the conducting-cylinder a plurality of alternately arranged insulating mold-rings 14, of hard-rubber, glass or other suitable insulating material; between which are interposed conducting mold-blank-rings 15, usually of lead, or other comparatively soft and easily fusible metal; and when ready to be' inserted in the electrolytic-bath, a peripheral-annular-mold-space or cavity 16, of the shape and contour .of the ring to be electrolytically produced, is left between-the insulating-mold-rings 14; and upon insertion in the bath; upon turning on the current, and. rotating the cathode C-, the electrolytic rings 17 required, are formed by electrodeposition upon the conducting-mold-rings 1 5, in the annular mold-space or cavities 16, until the same are completely filled.

Thus far as described the method and apparatus herein described and shown. is not of my invention; but I have discovered and demonstrated that the sponginess sometimes found in electro-deposition in processes of the character used herein; may be removed by burnishing or smearing mechanical-pressure exerted upon the article being formed during its deposition, in such manner that the laminae of micrometric thickness deposited, as fast as deposited, are mechanically densified, consolidated and compressed one upon the other, in such manner as to produce a deposited article of a non-porous and homogeneous solid structure.

In the case of articles to be so electrolytically produced which are not of annular form, such for instance as flat articles, this pressure may, in carrying out the method or process herein disclosed, be brought about by a reciprocating or vibratory motion; but I have not deemed it necessary herein to show mechanism and apparatus' therefor, as from the disclosure the could be easily de-j mechanism for so doin signed by any mechanic skilled in the art.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the means which I use for bringing about the me 'chanical pressure upon the article (in this case the annular-rings 17 being deposited) in this the simplest form of my apparatus, is a pressure-spring 18, secured to a bracket or upward extension of the back-wall 3' of the receptacle or bath-tank 1, by means of screws 20; which pressure-member or spring 18 is formed of any suitable resilient springmetal; and is tensioned to the proper pres sure by tension-screws 21, located in the forward extensions 22 of the brackets 19, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Such pressure-spring is preferably provided with a contracting pressure burnishing surface 23 of segmental concave contour (Figs. 1 and 3) in order to contact with the annular-ring 17 to be electrolytically deposited throughout a considerable portion of its periphery.

The operation of the pressure of the consolidating spring 18 is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, the deposited microm'etric laminae in same as well as in Figs. 4 and 5, being shown greatly enlarged in order to bring out. the metal densifying and consolidating to corrode, roughen and greatly deteriorate the burnishing surface in contact with the deposit; and in such cases, instead of the spring 18 being in direct contact with the article or ring being molded a proper burnishing block 24 (Fig. 4) of any suitable hard and exceedingly smooth surfaced material such as glass, agate, etc., unaffected by the chemicals of the bath may be secured in any desired manner to the working end of such spring 18; and the same is usually of the form shown in (Fig. 4), consisting of a base 25, having a securing shank 26 fitting in a cavity 27 formed in the. end of the pressure-spring 18, and secured therein by means of a screw 28, or in any other desired manner.

In the simplest form of apparatus for carrying into effect my improved method of electrodeposition herein disclosed; it will be seen the cathode C rotating in the direction of the arrow (Figs. land 3) will cause the'burnishing portion of the pressure-sprin to press upon the article, in this case t e annular rings being deposited, with a burnishing, dragging, compressing and consolidating pressure and action; and I have found that in the composition of rings for various purposes where different-degrees of hardness is required this may be varied in three ways; first by varying the pressure upon the urnishing and compression-spring aariaaa 18 by proper manipulation of the tensiontill screws 21; second by varying the speed of rotation of the cathode, and third a combination of variation of both such tensioning and rotation.

In F igs.- 1 and 6 l[,have shown a apparatus ,for forming one ring at a time, while in Figs. 2 and 7 I have shown an apparatus for forming two rings simultaneously.

The modified form of apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive in that the consolidating pressure exerted upon the annular rings being formed instead of being brought about thereon by a stationar burnishing member is exerted upon the article deposite by a rapidly positively rotated burnishing or deposition consolidating pressure-wheel 30, and in my preferred form of construction, wherein a pluralityof rings are deposited at the same time (shown in Fig. 7 the brackets 19, are rovided with backwardly extending brac ets 31, having journal-boxes in which are revolubly mounted the main or drive-shaft 32 having the main drive-wheel 33, driven by the belt 34, and also having mounted thereon the drive wheels 35 and 35 carrying the belts 36 and 36 driving the drive-wheels 37 and 3?, driving the pressure-wheel-shaft or shafts 38, revolubly mounted in the outer ends of the vibrating-lever or levers 39 (Figs. 5 to 8) forced downward toward the ring being deposited by the pressure springs 18, tensioned by the screws 21, upon which shaft or shafts 38 are rigidly mounted the pressure-wheels 30. In the case of the two ring forming apparatus shown in Fig. 7, the two shafts 38 are separate one from the other,'and thus may be individually tensioned by proper manipulation of the tensioning-screws; whereby one ring deposited may have a different ressure exerted upon it than that upon t e other ring being formed simultaneously therewith.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 diders only. from that shown in Fig. 7, in that instead of two rings being simultaneously formed there are six; and also in that the tension exerted upon each of such rings is the same; there bein but two tension screws 21, one for each cm? of the pressure-wheelshaft 38.

It will be seen that in all of the constructions shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the consolidating member is in the form of a positively rotated-pressure-wheel' rings different and widely varying, as to the composition and density of the metal, may be produced by varying the pressure and densifying and consolidating'action through the manipulation of the tension screws 21; or by varying the rapidlty of rotation of the pressure-wheels 30, or of the cathode (3-,

lli-lll or by a combination of any two, or of all three of same; and it is preferahle to rapidly rotate the pressure wheels 3d; the rapidity of rotation didering with the character where the metal is of such quality as to he liable to strip, this may to a large extent be prevented by rotating such ressure-wheels 30 in the same directlon as t e cathode and rings being deposited, but at a higher rate of peripheral speed, such rate of rotation being dependent upon the character of the metal. y

The process for the removal of the deposited articles, in this case rings; from the depositing blanks or molderings, forms no particular part of this process, and is fully set forth, described and claimed in my beforementioned copending application, and l have therefore not deemed it essential to more fully describe the same herein.

1 have found in practice that in order to form the rings of exceedingly smooth end surface whereby the same when finished will need no tooling or dressing, it is preferable to form the insulating mold-hlank-rings 1-1 of glass, porcelain or any other exceedingly hard-substance with a very smooth surface, which will not be ad'ectedby the action of the liquid in the bath; and in some cases. and for certain purposes, the consolidated ring may be also formed of like material.

I claim 1. The hereinbefore described process for the formation of metallic articles which consists of the following steps 1) forming a conducting mold blank; (2) positioning such mold-blank upon and in contact with a cathode; (3) positioning insulation upon the cathode to wall such mold-blank to form a' molding-cavity outward of such mold- Fill w ll

llfl

blank; (4:) immersing the cathode in an I electrolytic-bath; (5) electrolytically depositing upon the face of the conducting-moldblank the required quantity of deposition to form the article desired to he produced; (6)

- during such deposition subjecting the deposition to mechanical smearing or hurnishing pressure so as to by such pressure consolidate, densify and compact the same so as to form a homogeneous metallic structure; (7) removing the conducting mold-blank and article from the cathode; and (8) separating the mold-blank from the article.

2. The hereinbefore described process for ltd lmi

the formation of metallic rings, which con- 7 sists of the following steps :(1) forming an annular conducting-mold-blank or ring, or a plurality thereof; (2) positioning the llhd same upon and in contact with the periphery of a cylindrical-conducting-cathode; (3)

interposing upon such cylindrical-cathode burnishing pressure so as to by such pressure. onsolidate, density and compact the same as to form a homogeneous metallic structure;v (7) removing the conducting-'mold-blank or blanks, article or articles from the cathode;

and (8) separating the two,

3. In a device of the class described, an

electrolytic-bath-tank or receptacle adapted to contain electrolytic fluid; an electrolyticcathode located in the tank; an electricanode also located in the tank; a conducting-mold-blank or blanks positioned on and in contact with the cathode; walls of insulating material adjacent to the mold-blank or blanks, also mounted on the cathode extending beyond the mold-blank or blanks to form a deposition cavity or cavities wherein the article or articles required to be produced may be electrolytically deposited; and means for compressing the foliated electrolytically deposited laminae during such deposition, by a smearing and burnishing pressure.

4. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to contain an electrolyticfluid; an anode located in the receptacle; a cathode adapted to be removably and revolubly mounted in the receptacle; a plurality of conducting-mold-blanks in contact with iterates such 'revolu'ble cathode. carried thereby; walls of insulating material walling the mold-blanks, and extending beyond the outer surface thereof so as to form molds of the shape and contour of the articles desired to be electrolytically produced; means for mechanically compressing the foliated electrolytically deposited laminae during such deposition by a smearing and burnishing pres sure; and means for moving the cathode and its accompanying mold-blank or blanks in the bath, during such deposition and mechanical compression and consolidation.

5. In a device of the class described, a tank or receptacle for holding an electro- .lytic-depositing bath; an anode located in said receptacle; a cathode located in such re- ,ceptacle removably and revolubly mounted 'injsuch receptacle; an annular conducting .imoldblank-ring, or a plurality thereof, lo-

cated upon and in contact with the periphery of the cathode; and insulating rings also mounted upon the cathode, and extending beyond the outer peripheral surface of such conducting mold-blank-ring or rings so as to leave a cavity or cavities of the form of the ring or rings to be deposited; a source of electrical supply connected with the cathode and anode; means for rotating the cathode; and a revolubly mounted wheel or wheels fitting in the molding-cavity or cavities exerting mechanical pressure u on the rings being electrolytically deposited therein, during the rotation of the cathode, which pressure wheels are rotated reversel to the rotation of the cathode, with a yield ing pressure so as to compact, density and consolidate the foliated laminae being deposited while in a substantially nascent state during such deposition.

EDWARD G. COOK.

Witnesses:

H. I. SIEGEL, H. D. PENNEY. 

